Music Bloodline

50 Cent

Queens rapper dodged many literal bullets in rise from mixtape warrior to Eminem protege to million-selling MC.

Biography

50 Cent endured obstacles throughout his young yet remarkably dramatic life before becoming the most discussed figure in rap, if not pop music in general, circa 2003. The rapper lived everything most rappers write rhymes about, but not all actually experience: drugs, crimes, imprisonments, stabbings, and most infamously of all, shootings. But all-importantly, 50 Cent may have fit the mold of a prototypical hardcore rapper, but he could also craft a catchy hook. As a result, his music crossed over to the pop market, appealing to both those who liked his roughneck posturing and rags-to-riches story as well as those who liked his knack for churning out naughty singalong club tracks. ~ Jason Birchmeier